Crafty Swappers

Molsmum · Shameless swap tart Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 47

I've had a few eyelet/snap setter tools but never really got on with them, for one thing the hammer type are noisy and the results are variable. It's also not easy to make holes in thicker materials and metals with a hammer and punch and you are limited to flatter projects.

Several months ago, QVC had the Crop-a-dile (CAD) as a 'Todays Special Value' for just under £16 including the case and eyelets. Impressed by the demo, I ordered knowing that if it was rubbish I'd send it back. No chance! It's fantastic. It punches two sizes of hole, 1/8" and 3/16" effortlessly into virtually anything, metals, plastics, leather, thin MDF, acrylic, mountboard - the list goes on. Having punched the hole, the CAD allows you to set eyelets and snaps, both large and small. Punching a series of holes in a consistent place is easy as both sizes of punch have a moveable gauge. The only drawback I found was that I was limited to punching holes within 1" of the edge of my projects.

Enter the Big Bite. This redesigned tool can do the same as the CAD except it makes it possible to make holes and set to a depth of 6" - meaning you can place an eyelet, snap or hole in the centre of a 12"x12" page should you wish! The additional case for this machine includes grommets which look like eyelets without the hole.

Before I bought the CAD, I had lots of eyelets that I never used as they were such a pain to apply, but now I use them all the time. Both the CAD and the Big Bite are, in my opinion, well worth the investment.

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Tracy

KJJC · Dedicated Crafter Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 52

yes I too love the cropadile but don't know that I'd get much use out of the big one cos you can use an ordinary setter for most things and I can't see me needing to make a hole 6ins in on metal or the like.

Fluffybee · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 11:36 am Post subject:

I'd agree with you about the crop-a-dile..it took me ages to get around to getting one but it's made setting so much easier and more comfortable. I had a silent setter, which, with a neck & shoulder injury, could be quite demanding to use - this is still useful once in a while for hard-to-reach areas though, so I'm not sure about the Big Bite.
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Lynne

TB · Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 10:08 pm Post subject:

The cropodile is also very good for adding extra holes to a leather belt that BIL has given you cos it "shrunk in the wash" Confused

I had to add an extra 6 holes just to make it fit around my slim athletic waist. Laughing

sandy2662 · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 11:11 am Post subject:

i love mine

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